Take notes, Emoji Movie - 7/10

Why? I mean, it's a Disney animated movie. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the animation's going to look gorgeous.

Why? Again, no complaints here. Veterans and newcomers alike perfectly voiced their characters. Numerous cameo appearances were also very much welcome and left me with a smile on my face.

Why? I watched the prequel to that installment about two years ago, and still consider it to be one of the best Disney films, animated or otherwise, to come out in the past decade. It perfectly blended nostalgia, humor, and heart and left me wanting more. When the sequel was announced, I was beyond excited to see one of my favorite duos come back to visit a place that has never been well depicted in a film before (I'm not even sorry, Emoji Movie, you were bad). Having watched it now, I have to admit, I am a bit disappointed. Not because the film was bad, but because it lacked the elements that made the first one so good, instead focusing on throwing as many pop culture references as possible. Let me start by stating what I enjoyed about this movie. First of all, the way the Internet is layered is incredibly smart and definitely one of the best parts of the sequel. I also enjoyed most of the main characters, despite not feeling the same connection I had with them in the first film. Sadly, everything else, from the humor to the narrative, was either uninspired or just plain messy for me. The story jumps from storyline to storyline with no links to tie them together, ending with a chaotic third act that doesn't even come close to the level of the finale of its predecessor. Having said all that, I watched the movie at 3pm on a Friday in a theater filled with children, and they were laughing the entire time. They cheered everytime a familiar character popped on the screen, or whenever a Fortnite reference was made. I may not have been entirely satisfied with "Ralph Breaks the Internet", but they sure did, and that's what counts most in a Disney animated feature.

Why? As mentioned earlier, the movie jumps from storyline to storyline with no apparent links between them. It also takes a little while to truly start, and does drag a bit in the middle. The film could've been about 10 to 15 minutes shorter in my opinion, and edited in a more cohesive way.

Why? Apart from a couple of visually stunning scenes, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" didn't take a lot of risks in that area, which I found completely understandable since it mostly wants to appeal to kids.

Why? I honestly only noticed the score when it played something nostalgic such as the Star Wars theme, which is not a very good sign. I did, however, very much enjoyed Vanellope's solo song which served as a hilarious parody of Disney's princesses' most famous tracks.